Summary
Time is a precious thing; our schedules are busy, and while we attempt to keep up with our love for gaming, life often throws itself at us and spills over into whatever free time we do have. In these moments,diving into an expansive open-world adventureor eliminating backlog by completing a full day’s gaming session seems like a distant dream.
ThePlayStation 4’scatalog acts as a sanctuary for those seekingquick sessions of gamingwithout compromising on the quality of their entertainment. So whether you have half an hour to spare before work, or an hour to play with friends, the PS4 has you covered with a selection of casual games that cater to whatever your circumstance.
Updated Jun 08, 2025 by Jacob Whaling: We’ve updated this list with a few more cozy, relaxing, casual games to play on PS4. Also, we’ve updated the spec boxes on each entry to show the release date, developer, HowLongToBeat stats, and more.
Windbound is a survival game that heavily involves the exploration of the seas. The game is equipped with stunning aesthetics and accessible mechanics to give you an enjoyable gameplay experience. While Windbound also comes with harder difficulties for those wanting a challenge, Story Mode allows you to casually explore the game at your own leisure, taking in the beautiful scenery and melodic soundtrack.
The average completion time of 14 hours means this is a title for those who want a shorter-to-complete game, but with the opportunity to prolong the experience over several days. So what are you waiting for? Build your boat, sail the seas, and become windbound.
With an average completion time of eight hours, Unravel is the perfect game for casual gamers. The main character, Yarny, has the ability to use his own yarn body to swing from objects and create his own bridges as you guide him on a journey throughvarious puzzles.
What’s so fascinating about Unravel is the narrative. Without the need for words, the game leans heavily into visual storytelling in the form of photographs to hint at past memories unraveling before you. Complemented by gorgeous scenery and an emotional soundtrack, Unravel will melt your heart and tie knots in your stomach.
A Short Hike is exactly that, an hour and a half of pure charm as you control a young bird called Claire on her vacation to a peaceful island. Ideal for those that want to complete a game in an entire night, but are strapped for time. You’ll explore a colourful island, talking to various inhabitants as you aim to reach the mountain peak.
Agentle soundtrackand soothing gameplay allow you to engage in and learn activities at your own pace, while taking in the relaxing atmosphere created by A Short Hike. The feelings of happiness this game creates will not only calm you after a long day, but will live with you as a fantastic memory.
Not many multiplayer games offer drop-in fun quite like Fall Guys, with most games lasting ten minutes on average. This video game adaptation of the 1980s TV show Takeshi’s Castle allows you to customise your character and compete in waves of challenges on a game show, all in hopes of being the last one standing.
Fall Guys is also a fantastic choice to play with friends or family given its light-hearted competitiveness and teamwork-based nature. In some rounds you could be completely on your own racing against them, but you also may be forced into a team-based round, so while you may be kicking their butts one minute, you’ll be relying on them the next.
You are placed on a short, yet emotional adventure through a vast desert landscape in Journey. While you traverse the world on your own personal quest, the game introduces a distinctive take on multiplayer interactions. If you chance upon another traveler during your journey, communication is deliberately restricted. This means zero text or voice communication, with musical notes being the only method of interaction.
Journey adopts a minimalistic narrative approach, leaving you to construct your own interpretation of the story. As you immerse yourself in this captivating adventure, the emotions of wonder, comprehension, and enigma are prominently interwoven, offering a unique and beautiful adventure of personal discovery.
Each game of Among Us takes just ten minutes and is perfect if your time is limited, but you want several rounds of fun. While you may never trust your friends after, Among Us is a game that is best played in a group. Up to three out of ten players can be Imposters onboard the spacecraft, and it is up to them to sabotage, or assassinate the Crewmates before they finish their tasks.
When a body is found, that’s when the real fun begins, as your people skills are put to the test to determine who’s telling the truth, and who could potentially be coming after you next. Unless you yourself are the real Imposter here, of course.
Put your chef’s hat on and prepare for a fun, yet extremely stressful time in a variety of busy kitchens. Overcooked 2 is a blend of communication, coordination, and collaboration as you prepare meals for hungry customers within a short time limit. Should you survive the chaos, you’re given the very sweet reward of even more chaos, as you’re assigned more orders and forced into some quick thinking.
What’s so fun about Overcooked 2 is the overwhelming realism of what it’s like being a chef. The difficulty really tests your skill, and with each round being so short, it’s absolutely great for casual gamers to jump in and out of, if they can handle the stress that is.
With a history spanning over 20 years, The Sims series has continued to be a great choice for casual players. In The Sims 4, you create their Sims' appearance, personality, and aspirations. The game’s attention to customisation allows you to delve into your creativity and shape every facet of your Sims' life.
As you help your Sims through various life stages, you encounter the challenges of satisfying your Sims' needs, managing day-to-day routines, and building relationships with other virtual inhabitants. Sims can then acquire new skills, form connections,and even establish families. The gameplay in The Sims 4 offers a relaxed experience, allowing you to seamlessly guide your Sims while enjoying the expansive range of activities available in the game.
In Firewatch, you play as Henry, a fire lookout stationed in the Shoshone National Forest during the summer of 1989. You soon come to realize your only communication with the outside world is through a Walkie-Talkie with your supervisor, a woman named Delilah.
As you navigate the forested landscape, protecting the National Forest from fires, you will discover various points of interest, solve puzzles, and engage in emotionally charged conversations with your only companion. There’s an emotional depth of narrative that comes with Firewatch, and when coupled with its stunning visuals and calming soundtrack, it’s a game that certainly shouldn’t be missed.
Minecraft is the epitome of opening up your creative mindset. From exploring the landscape tobuilding fascinating architecture, or just unwinding with friends, there are endless amounts you can do in-game. For casual players, Creative Mode allows you the freedom to go at your own leisurely pace without the constraints of survival. There are also no caps on resources, which means you can immerse yourself in the artistic world and come up with some fabulous creations.
Minecraft also has a large community, meaning, if you’re just looking for a game where you may interact with others, and take inspiration from their creations, you can. Who knows, you might even start a small community and build an entire city of your own.
